Chapter 1: City of Lies

Hector Dracas, the mighty Primaris Psyker, watched up from the fading image of Inquisitor Killain to Valsarius Malge, the Magos Dominus. The mention of archeotech and xenos artifacts always seemed to be of particular importance to the Adeptus Mechanicus. Hector held no love for the Magos, even though the man, if he could be called such any longer, had saved his life. It had come at the price of extensive augmetic replacements that were plain for all to see, for the Lord Psyker's face was partly replaced, and many plugs into his brain ran like cables down his neck to control his new metallic limbs.

They hurt. They always hurt. Whether expected or not, very movement elicited pain. Combined with the incessant whispers of the Warp Hector knew not a moment of peace. Yet it was all preferable to death, for the daemons hungrily awaited the moment of his demise to tear his mighty soul apart. His existence was agony. He was mistrusted for his psyker nature, yet used for it continuously. If there was one small blessing, it was that he was no longer on the battlefield. A small mercy. As for the matters of Heresy, Hector had faced daemons in mind and body. Fools who fell to their temptation were idiots all, and to painfully excise them from the materium and sending their screaming, doomed souls into the Warp was one of the few pleasures that remained him. And on this mission, there was every chance he would face the nobility. Ahhhh, those self-righteous, pompous, spoiled wretches. They had it all, yet wanted more. Hector yearned to uncover them, to expose them for what they were, and to send them screaming into the fangs of hungry daemons..

Augustine sits proudly watching the briefing, his demeanour serious and his gaze intense and observant. He is tall with dark, greying hair and thick moustache set below a long thin nose. His face is framed with high prominent cheekbones and covered in small scars revealing many years of combat experience. Upon his head he wears a peaked officer's cap bearing a winged skull motif and dons a black great coat with gold and red epaulets, unmistakably marking him as an Imperial Commissar.

Beneath the jacket he wears a black undercoat, black combat pants, and combat boots which are covered by the dull-bronze coloured breastplate, gauntlets, and leg armour of the 17th Hestian Phalanx of the Imperial Guard. He also carries an intricately patterned Hestian shortsword, an ancient and symbolic weapon issued to all units in the regiment, as well as a standard issue bolt pistol and power sword.

He glares across the cabin at each of his companions in turn, scrutinising their reactions and their body language as the message plays. He holds his thoughts for a few moments, considering his words before speaking in a commanding and well-spoken voice.

"Well, that was a damning indictment from the Inquisitor. I have not encountered them before but I have heard tales of xenos-worshipping cults populated by abominations of hybrid human and alien forms. If this cesspit of heresy is as bad as he describes, then it won’t be long before we have to get our hands dirty. May the Emperor deliver us from the blasphemy of the xenos and protect us from their evil."

Valsarius' bionic appendages whirr slightly as they agitate around him like serpentine tentacles. He stands shorter then most of the assembled sentients due in part to his hunch, the weight of the installed Machinator Array causing his reinforced spine to curl downward to compensate for the added pressure and although his body is enhanced through gene therapy and augmetic surgery, the changes are mostly internal and not physically pronounced. Blue eye-lights shine through the shaded red hood of his Mars pattern cowl outlining the recesses of his face through reflection off the silver contours of his embedded mask.

The tech-priest leans heavily on a large cog shaped axe. The ubiquitous icon of the Mechanicum was held firmly in hand as if it's mere presence lent the aid of the Omnissiah to the devout disciple. A small servo-skull hovers silently within easy reach, red eye-lens glowing as it observes all within radius.

The Tech-Priest listened to the vox-cast recording of Inquisitor Killain, mechanical lungs humming with each intake of purified atmosphere, and said nothing. He glanced around the transport and his compu-brain registered the flesh beings who found themselves in his company. His mental nanotech retrieved the file on one Hector Dracas. The Tech-Priest's memory engrams brought forth the complete record of their initial meeting. Clear images of the Psyker broken and bleeding after leading a valiant charge against the overwhelming foe of the day permeated the tech-priests optic field, and if he wanted, a full report of the enemy was but a thought away. But Valsarius was not interested in reliving the past, even though that was an option. Instead he glance/scanned the others in the transport.

Augustine nods in agreement at Bert's assessment "I agree, though perhaps it is wise to talk to some of the other nobles first to ascertain some useful information before we encounter him. We should be careful about divulging our broader purpose here outside of investigating the deaths but utilising the lies and intrigue that typically accompany the nobility to encourage whisperings about their rivals will be to our benefit. This may also give us the advantage of understanding and exposing more widespread corruption. Regardless, we should follow up with a visit to the Arbites to get more detail on the deaths as well as the artefacts."

He pauses for a few moments, deep in thought "Some of you may disagree, but I think we should be exercising our authority to get what we want and let people know we are here. It may draw out both allies and enemies which help us expediate our investigations. From my experience even the most pompous of nobles will become courteous when they know we are in the employ of an Inquisitor."

"Hmm. I will seek the Emperor's guidance by consulting His tarot, so He may show us the path."
The psyker retrieved a small intricately inlaid box from his coat pocket and opened it, revealing a masterfully worked deck of cards that was otherwise unremarkable. Countless so-called soothsayers and frauds would pinch coin from gullible citizens to read them their future, but in the hands of a psyker the tarot was truly a mighty tool, for the Emperor would guide their hand and give them glimpses of what might come to be. The fates of worlds had changed by a reading of the Tarot, but as with all tools of the Warp one had to take care, for the unwary might be lead astray by personal emotion or the interference of those that dwelled in the immaterium.

Hector took a deep breath and began to shuffle the deck. As he closed his eyes the temperature in the cabin sunk dramatically, to the point where its occupants began seeing their own breath. Hector's mind had opened to the Warp and drew on its power as the screaming vortex of the Warp howled at his mind but was held at bay by wards and his iron will. Hector focused on the guiding presence of the God-Emperor, the world below, and their mission to uproot the heresy within Hive Desoleum and Lans Guljian.

He drew his first card..

The sword, inverted. The first card spoke of the antithesis of battle. The second card, at its side, was the Young Warrior ascendant, an eager confrontation. Above them both stood The Executioner. Hector felt the need to stop the draw, and visions of the future filled him. A world lost to heresy. A world lost to fire. A world reclaimed. The path to the third was a path that started singularly, but always wound up at one of the others. But a path that led to doom would wind around to salvation.

Hector exhaled, relinquishing his grasp on the Warp. He spoke grimly.
"The Emperor guides our hand. Only by dividing our forces and keeping the lords of Hive Desoleum occupied while some of us act in the shadows will we succeed."

Augustine stares at the psyker, unblinking and expressionless "Very well, if the emperor wills it. We should decide how organise ourselves. Thoughts?"

"Stealth and deception aren't my fortes but conversation and... persuasion are. I will pay a visit to Captain Lucian and begin following up leads thrown up by this line of investigation."